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OPINION

Letter: Meeting Ali was unforgettable

In the late 1970s, I had just gotten the advertising account for Hardwick Stoves in Cleveland, Tennessee. Hardwick was one of the first to manufacture microwave ovens. Since this was a new concept in cooking, we felt we needed to introduce the product on national TV, so we made a trip to New York to shoot a commercial for 'Good Morning America.'

So my wife, Dot, and I along with Hardwick's advertising manager and his wife flew to New York. The next morning, the four of us went to the Plaza for breakfast. As we were leaving the dining room, lo and behold, at a table near us sat Muhammad Ali. It looked as if he had finished his meal, so I asked Paul if he'd like to meet Ali and began walking over to Ali's table. (I was just young and dumb and trying to make a good impression on my client.)

I had noticed four exceptionally large gentlemen sitting with Ali, and as I got closer to the table, two of them rose. As I got really close, the other two rose. By now all four were staring me down, but I wasn't about to miss this opportunity. I walked on up to the table, introduced Paul and myself, and told Ali what a big fan I was and that I just wanted to shake his hand. After what seemed like an awfully long minute to me, Ali stood up, smiled that great big smile of his, said, 'Well, all right,' and stuck out that huge hand that completely engulfed mine.

I just remember how gracious Ali was to two East Tennessee strangers.

Some things you just don't forget.

Jim Reed, Knoxville

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